KOLKATA: Dempo made a spectacular second half comeback to demolish Mohun Bagan 4-1 in a round 23 I-League match at Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Wednesday.
The win meant Dempo, who now have 47 points from 23 matches, are tantalisingly close to their fourth title in the national championship.
In two contrasting performances, Mohun Bagan dominated the first-half with a NS Manju strike early in the seventh minute as the leaders looked out of sorts, both in the mid-field and forward.
But the Goans turned the table in a scintillating fashion after the breather and pumped in four goals in a space of 20 minutes to shatter Mohun Bagan’s hopes.
Man-of-the-Match Beto scored two goals (47th, 64th), while Ranti Martins (54th) and Joacquim Abranches (60th) found the net once to complete the humiliation for the home team.
Dempo goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal stood tall in front of the bar in the first half. India international Manju helped Mohun Bagan go 1-0 up in a splendid fashion when he scored from a Marcos Pereira corner early on.
All charged-up, Mohun Bagan got a fine opportunity in the 20th minute when Chidi beat the Dempo defence and took the shot which was deflected out by custodian Mondal.
Dempo almost equalised through Anthony Pereira in the 25th minute when Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Shilton Paul found himself out of place but a well anticipated Deepak got himself on line of the ball to avert the goal.
But after the change of ends, the Armando Colaco-coached side looked regrouped with Brazilian striker Beto bringing them back into the match with the equaliser in the 47th minute.
Against the run of the mill, an unmarked Beto headed the ball home from a Samir Naik corner to level the scoreline.
Dempo intensified their attack with a spirited Abranches on the midfield as they quickly went ahead seven minutes later.
Ranti made a brilliant finish from an Abranches pass with a superb right-footer.
Six minutes later, Abranches scored from a Climax Lawrence corner to make it 3-1 for Dempo.
Beto added salt to Bagan’s injury, scoring his second and Dempo’s fourth of the match in the 64th minute to seal the match in his side’s favour.
Pune dent Mahindra hopes
Arata Izumi’s strike saved the day for Pune FC as Derrick Pereira’s boys held Mahindra United 1-1 in a round 23 tie at the Cooperage grounds, Mumbai on Wednesday.
Three points was utter requirement for the David Booth boys to keep their titles hopes alive after their back-to-back defeats at the hands of Lajong and Mohun Bagan but it was Pune FC’s PIO Arata Izumi goal that put Mahindra out of the title race.
Steven Dias opened the account for Mahindra, while Arata levelled the terms for the visitors.
Chirag hold Lajong
An 83rd minute goal by Edmilson Marques helped Chirag United to snatch a point against Shillong Lajong FC in the 1-1 draw at JN Sports Complex, Shillong on Wednesday. After dictating the terms in the first half and notching up the opener through Daniel Bademi in the 38th minute, Lajong failed to sustain their lead and conceded a later equaliser in the 83rd minute, when Edmilson spoiled Stanley Rozario-coached side party to salvage some pride after suffering two straight defeats.
Three points would have done the trick for Lajong as relegation threat is looming over them but they failed to capitalise their one goal advantage and are now placed 8th in the standings with 26 points, while Chirag’s position remained unchanged as they find themselves at 6th spot
with 32 points.
